ZigZag

ZigZag by Julie Paschkis is a playful and richly illustrated picture book that celebrates language, sound, and the joy of savoring words. ZigZag the alligator loves words. He tastes them, rolls them around, and delights in how they feel and sound. One day, while enthusiastically exploring the word “tambourine,” ZigZag accidentally swallows all the vowels. Suddenly, his world feels flat and frustrating. Without A, E, I, O, and U, familiar words lose their flavor, objects no longer feel right, and even his cozy bed becomes uncomfortable. As ZigZag searches for his missing vowels, he discovers that they are everywhere. They spill out through sighs, exclamations, and everyday speech shared by friends and family. With warmth and humor, the story invites readers to notice how vowels shape meaning, rhythm, and pleasure in language. Julie Paschkis’s intricate pen and ink illustrations, filled with vibrant color, patterns, and hand drawn words, turn each page into a visual feast. Designed to be